Ulysses der opdager Achilles mellem Lycomedes´ døtre 1794 - 1797

Curator: Well, hello there. What do you make of this drawing? To me, it exudes the delicate power of suggestion. Editor: It’s quite lovely…ethereal. A bit like figures emerging from a sepia dream. There’s a stillness to it, almost a hushed anticipation, that I find rather captivating. Curator: This piece by Nicolai Abildgaard, created between 1794 and 1797, is titled “Ulysses der opdager Achilles mellem Lycomedes’ døtre,” or, “Ulysses Discovering Achilles Among the Daughters of Lycomedes.” Editor: Ah, so that’s Ulysses with the… well, what is he dangling? A necklace? And Achilles disguised as a woman, clutching a sword? I see the drama unfolding! Curator: Exactly! Note how Abildgaard utilizes the narrative of the Trojan War to delve into themes of identity and disguise. Jewelry—a classic distraction—versus weapons, and what each suggests about presumed gender roles. It’s rife with symbols. Editor: Symbols layered upon symbols. It's clever. You almost don't realize it's happening because of how calm everything seems. But look closely: is Achilles giving Ulysses a *look*? Curator: (Chuckles) Perhaps! There is some visual exchange occurring there. Abildgaard was working in the Neoclassical style, harkening back to classical ideals and stories to impart moral or philosophical lessons. His art invites a meditation on human nature—how appearances can be deceiving, and how societal expectations shape our understanding of ourselves and others. It has the character of almost wanting to depict something that happened behind a door that cracked open for a split second. Editor: I agree completely. You said "societal expectations" and I immediately flash to how timely and urgent that feels now. I wonder if Abildgaard understood that this one snapshot of Achilles' life, however dramatized, would hold that charge centuries later? The art isn’t merely reflecting the past, it’s speaking to the present, even anticipating the future, which gives me a kind of aesthetic whiplash, in the best way! Curator: A drawing rendered in pencil can capture an epic tale and, with its subdued palette, reveal the psychological intimacies of its characters in such striking detail. I think that is, quite simply, beautiful. Editor: Absolutely. This piece definitely feels like a visual poem that continues to murmur its secrets.